Image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image reading apparatus includes a separating roller that is capable of switching between a separation state in which an original document is separated and a non-separation state in which the original document is not separated, and determines whether or not the original document is fed in the separation state or the non-separation state based on the types of the original document set through a user interface for instructing a select of the types of the original document to be read and a start of reading the original document.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus reading anoriginal document.

2. Related Art

Hereinafter, a scanner which is an example of an image reading apparatuswill be described as an example. In a scanner which is an example of animage reading apparatus, an automatic document feeder (also referred toas ADF) which automatically feeds an original document as a medium isprovided, and the scanner may be configured to automatically feed andread a plurality of the original documents.

As a configuration of such a feeding device, as illustrated in JapanesePatent No. 4,820,314, a tray on which an original document is placed(“shooter 14” in Japanese Patent No. 4,820,314), a feeding roller(“setting roller 2” in Japanese Patent No. 4,820,314) which feeds theoriginal document when coming into contact with a surface of theoriginal document set in the tray and rotating, and a separating roller(“separating roller 12” in Japanese Patent No. 4,820,314) whichseparates the original document by coming into contact with the feedingroller are included.

The feeding roller disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4,820,314 isconfigured to sequentially feed paper from paper on a lower side, thatis, paper on a placing surface side of the tray among the plurality ofthe original documents (paper bundle) placed on the tray. The paper onan upper side, that is, paper to be separated is configured to beprevented from being fed to a downstream side when a distal end of thepaper comes into contact with the separating roller.

However, there are various types of the original document, among thedocument types, there is an original document constituted by a pluralityof layers, and this type of document may have a concern of beingseriously damaged such as separation of layers when a separation forcegenerated by the separating roller acts thereon in the same way as ageneral original document. As such an original document, for example,there is a film (hereinafter, also referred to as “instant film”) beingused for an instant camera.

However, a controller of the scanner is difficult to grasp that such anoriginal document is set. In addition, also a user is difficult to graspthat serious damage occurs when such an original document is fed as itis in the same way as the other original documents.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to appropriately feedan original document by reliably selecting an appropriate separationstate in accordance with the types of the original document.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an imagereading apparatus including a reading unit that reads an originaldocument, an original document placing portion on which the originaldocument is placed, a feeding roller that feeds the original documentfrom the original document placing portion, a separating roller that isa roller nipping the original document between the feeding roller andthe separating roller and is capable of switching between a separationstate in which the original document is separated and a non-separationstate in which the original document is not separated, and a controllerthat controls feeding of the original document, in which the controllerdetermines whether or not the original document is fed in the separationstate or the non-separation state based on the types of the originaldocument set through a user interface for instructing a select of thetypes of the original document to be read and a start of reading theoriginal document.

In the configuration, the separating roller is capable of switchingbetween the separation state in which the original document is separatedand the non-separation state in which the original document is notseparated, and the controller controlling the feeding of the originaldocument determines whether or not the original document is fed in theseparation state or the non-separation state based on the types of theoriginal document set through the user interface for instructing aselect of the types of the original document and a start of reading theoriginal document, and thus it is possible to reliably select anappropriate separation state in accordance with the types of theoriginal document and to appropriately feed the original document.

In addition, since a user does not need to select the separation stateand the non-separation state of the separating roller because the useronly instructs the select of the types of the original document P to beread and the start of reading the original document through the userinterface, the apparatus is user-friendly and is capable of avoiding asetting mistake occurred by the user.

In the image reading apparatus, a switching unit that switches betweenthe separation state and the non-separation state under the control ofthe controller may be further included, in which the controller maycontrol the switching unit based on the types of the set originaldocument.

In the configuration, the switching unit switching between theseparation state and the non-separation state under the control of thecontroller is included, the controller controls the switching unit basedon the types of the set original document, that is, the switchingbetween the separation state and the non-separation state isautomatically performed without touching of the user, and thus anoperability of the user is improved.

In the image reading apparatus, a switching unit that switches betweenthe separation state and the non-separation state by an operation of auser may be further included, in which the controller may generate analert in a case in which a state of the separating roller does notcorrespond to the type of the set original document.

In the configuration, the switching unit switching between theseparation state and the non-separation state by the operation of theuser is included, the controller generates an alert in a case in which astate of the separating roller does not correspond to the type of theset original document, and thus it is possible to urge a user to performa correct operation and to perform feeding of the original document.

In the image reading apparatus, a double-feeding detecting portion thatdetects double-feeding of the original document on the downstream sideof the feeding roller, may be further included, in which the controllermay be capable of switching between a first feeding mode in which afirst original document is fed and a second feeding mode in which asecond original document is fed, the first feeding mode may be a mode inwhich a state of the separating roller is set to the non-separationstate and the original document is fed, the second feeding mode may be amode in which the state of the separating roller is set to theseparation state and the original document is fed, and the controllermay not use the double-feeding detecting portion in the first feedingmode but use the double-feeding detecting portion in the second feedingmode.

The original document fed by setting the separating roller to thenon-separation state may be constituted by a plurality of layers, and ifthe double-feeding detecting portion detecting the double-feeding of theoriginal document is used, there is a concern that the double-feedingmay be determined in spite of non double-feeding and a job is stopped.

In the configuration, the controller does not use the double-feedingdetecting portion in the first feeding mode set to the non-separationstate but uses the double-feeding detecting portion in the secondfeeding mode set to the separation state, and thus it is possible toavoid the concern described above.

In addition, it is possible to appropriately feed the original documentsconstituted by the plurality of layers, that is, the original documentsin which a damage may be generated when being separated by theseparating roller in first feeding mode.

In the image reading apparatus, the first feeding mode may be a feedingmode in which only one sheet of the original documents set in theoriginal document placing portion is fed and a feeding standby state isset until a next one sheet of the original documents is set, and thesecond feeding mode may be a feeding mode in which a plurality oforiginal documents set in the original document placing portion isseparated by the separating roller and is continuously fed.

In the configuration, it is possible to appropriately feed the originaldocuments constituted by the plurality of layers, that is, the originaldocuments in which a damage may be generated when being separated by theseparating roller in first feeding mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is an exterior perspective view illustrating a scanner accordingto the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the scanner according to theinvention when seen from a different angle from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view illustrating an original documenttransporting path in the scanner according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the scanneraccording to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a switching unit which switches between aseparation state and a non-separation state of a separating roller.

FIG. 6 is a condition table illustrating a feeding condition of eachtype of the original document.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of a userinterface at the time of reading a normal photograph.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the userinterface at the time of reading a panoramic photograph.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the userinterface at the time of reading an instant photograph.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the transition example of the userinterface at the time of reading the normal photograph.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the transition example of the userinterface at the time of reading the instant photograph.

FIG. 12 is an exterior perspective view illustrating a scanner accordingto the invention (second embodiment).

FIG. 13 is an exterior perspective view illustrating a switching unitwhich switches between a separation state and a non-separation state ofa separating roller (second embodiment).

FIG. 14 is an exterior perspective view illustrating the switching unitwhich switches between the separation state and the non-separation stateof the separating roller (second embodiment).

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image reading apparatus according tothe invention will be described. As an example of the image readingapparatus in the embodiment, a document scanner (hereinafter, simplyreferred to as scanner 1) which is capable of reading at least onesurface of a front surface and a rear surface of an original documentwhich is an example of a medium is exemplified.

FIG. 1 is an exterior perspective view illustrating a scanner accordingto the invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scanner accordingto the invention when seen at a different angle from FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is aside sectional view illustrating an original document transporting pathin the scanner according to the invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagramillustrating a control system of the scanner according to the invention,and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a switching unit which switches between aseparation state and a non-separation state of a separating roller.

In addition, FIG. 6 is a condition table illustrating a feedingcondition of each type of the original document, FIG. 7 is a diagramillustrating a transition example of a user interface at the time ofreading a normal photograph, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating atransition example of the user interface at the time of reading apanoramic photograph, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a transitionexample of the user interface at the time of reading an instantphotograph, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the transition example ofthe user interface at the time of reading the normal photograph, andFIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the transition example of the userinterface at the time of reading the instant photograph.

In addition, FIG. 12 is an exterior perspective view illustrating ascanner according to the invention (second embodiment), FIGS. 13 and 14are perspective views of the switching unit which switches between theseparation state and the non-separation state of the separating roller(second embodiment).

Also, regarding an X-Y-Z coordinate system illustrated in each drawing,an X direction indicates an original document width direction which isan apparatus width direction, and a Y direction indicates an originaldocument transporting direction. A Z direction indicates a directionintersecting the Y direction and substantially orthogonal to a surfaceof the original document being basically transported. In addition, a +Ydirection side is set to a front surface side of the apparatus, and a −Ydirection side is set to a rear surface side of the apparatus. Inaddition, a left side seen from the front surface side of the apparatusis set to a +X direction, and a right side is set to a −X direction. Inaddition, a +Z direction is set to an upper side (including upperportion, upper surface, and the like) of the apparatus, and a −Zdirection side is set to a lower side (including lower portion, lowersurface, and the like) of the apparatus. In addition, a direction (+Ydirection side) where an original document P is fed is set to a“downstream”, and an opposite direction thereof (−Y direction side) isset to an “upstream”.

Outline of Scanner

Hereinafter, a scanner 1 according to the invention will be describedmainly with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The scanner 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an apparatus main body 2 inwhich a reading unit 20 (FIG. 3) reading an image of an originaldocument P is included.

The apparatus main body 2 is configured with a lower portion 3 and anupper portion 4. The upper portion 4 is attached to be openable andclosable based on a downstream side of the lower portion 3 in a papertransporting direction as a rotation fulcrum, the upper portion 4 isopened by being rotated on the front surface side of the apparatus, anda paper jam process of the original document P is easily performed byexposing an original document transporting path of the original documentP.

An original document placing portion 11 including a placing surface 11 aon which the original document P to be fed is placed is provided on arear surface side of the apparatus (−Y axis direction side) of theapparatus main body 2. The original document placing portion 11 isprovided to be detachable from the apparatus main body 2.

In addition, a pair of right and left edge guides 12 and 12 including aguide surface 13 guiding a side edge in a width direction (X axisdirection) intersecting a feeding direction (Y axis direction) of theoriginal document P is provided on the original document placing portion11.

The original document placing portion 11 includes a first paper support8 and a second paper support 9. The first paper support 8 and the secondpaper support 9 can be accommodated inside the original document placingportion 11 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and can be pulled out from theoriginal document placing portion 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1, and alength of the placing surface 11 a can be adjusted.

The apparatus main body 2 includes an operation panel 7, which realizesthe user interface (UI) performing various reading settings oroperations for reading, or displaying contents of reading settings orthe like, on a front surface side of the apparatus of the upper portion4. The operation panel 7 is a so-called touch panel through which bothdisplaying and inputting in the embodiment are performed.

A feeding port 6 connected to an inside of the apparatus main body 2 isprovided on the upper portion 4, and the original document P placed onthe original document placing portion 11 is fed toward a reading unit20, which is provided inside the apparatus main body 2, from the feedingport 6.

In addition, a discharging tray 5 to be described later is provided onthe front surface side of the apparatus of the lower portion 3.

Original Document Transporting Path in Scanner

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, an original document transporting pathin the scanner 1 will be described. Also, a dotted line illustrated by areference number T in FIG. 3 indicates the original documenttransporting path.

A feeding roller 14, which feeds the original document P placed on theplacing surface 11 a of the original document placing portion 11 towardthe reading unit 20, and a separating roller 15, which nips andseparates the original document P between the feeding roller 14 and theseparating roller, are provided on a downstream side of the originaldocument placing portion 11.

The original document P placed on the placing surface 11 a of theoriginal document placing portion 11 is fed to the downstream side (+Ydirection side) by the feeding roller 14 provided to be rotatable withrespect to the lower portion 3. Therefore, in a case in which aplurality of original documents P in the scanner 1 is set on theoriginal document placing portion 11, the original documents P aresequentially fed toward the downstream side from the document on theplacing surface 11 a side.

Also, a sensor (not illustrated) which detects whether or not theoriginal document P is present or absent on the original documentplacing portion 11 is provided on the original document placing portion11.

The feeding roller 14 is rotary-driven by a motor 45 for a feedingroller (FIG. 4). A rotation torque is obtained from the motor 45 for thefeeding roller, and the feeding roller 14 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction in a FIG. 3.

The rotation torque is transmitted to the separating roller 15 through atorque limiter, which is not illustrated, from a motor 46 for atransporting roller (FIG. 4).

In a case in which the original document P is not interposed between thefeeding roller 14 and the separating roller 15 or only one sheet of theoriginal documents is interposed therebetween, the separating roller 15is driven and rotated regardless of the rotation torque received fromthe motor 46 for the transporting roller when slip occurs in the torquelimiter which is not illustrated (in clockwise direction in FIG. 3).

When original documents P subsequent to a second sheet of the documentsare entered between the feeding roller 14 and the separating roller 15with the original document P to be fed, the slip occurs between theoriginal documents, and the separating roller 15 is rotated in thecounterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 by receiving the rotation torquefrom the motor 46 for the transporting roller. Therefore, double-feedingof the original document P is prevented.

Also, a driving force transmission path from the motor 46 for thetransporting roller to the separating roller 15 is provided in aseparation switching unit 68A (FIGS. 4 and 5), but the driving forcetransmission path will be described later.

A pair of transporting rollers 16, the reading unit 20 reading an image,and a pair of discharging rollers 17 are provided on the downstream sideof the feeding roller 14. The original document P, which is nippedbetween the feeding roller 14 and the separating roller 15 and is fed tothe downstream side, is nipped by the pair of transporting rollers 16and is transported to the reading unit 20 positioned on the downstreamside of the pair of transporting rollers 16.

The pair of transporting rollers 16 is rotary-driven by the motor 46 forthe transporting roller (FIG. 4).

An ultrasonic transmitting portion 31 and an ultrasonic receivingportion 32 constituting a double-feeding detecting portion 33 areprovided on the original document transporting path between the feedingroller 14 and the reading unit 20. More specifically, the double-feedingdetecting portion 33 includes the ultrasonic transmitting portion 31which transmits ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic receiving portion32 which receives the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonictransmitting portion 31 and outputs a detecting signal in accordancewith the received ultrasonic waves.

The ultrasonic transmitting portion 31 and the ultrasonic receivingportion 32 are provided on an upper side and a lower side pinching theoriginal document transporting path. More specifically, the ultrasonictransmitting portion 31 is provided on an upper portion 4 side, and theultrasonic receiving portion 32 is provided on a lower portion 3 side.

The double-feeding detecting portion 33 is capable of detectingdouble-feeding of the original document P to be transported, or a foldedor wrinkled original document P, or the like.

The reading unit 20 includes an upper portion reading sensor 20 aprovided on the upper portion 4 side and a lower portion reading sensor20 b provided on the lower portion 3 side. In the embodiment, the upperportion reading sensor 20 a and the lower portion reading sensor 20 bare configured as a contact type image sensor module (CISM) as anexample.

Also, an original document detecting portion 47 which detects passing ofa distal end or a rear end of the original document P is providedbetween the double-feeding detecting portion 33 on the original documenttransporting path and the feeding roller 14. A controller 40 of thescanner 1 is capable of easily grasping a position of the originaldocument P on the original document transporting path based on a signaltransmitted from the original document detecting portion 47.

After the reading unit 20 reads an image on at least one surface of thefront surface and the rear surface of the original document P, theoriginal document P is nipped between the pair of discharging rollers 17positioned on the downstream side of the reading unit 20, and isdischarged from a discharging port 18 provided on the front surface sideof the apparatus of the lower portion 3.

Also, the pair of discharging rollers 17 is rotary-driven by the motor46 for the transporting roller (FIG. 4).

The discharging tray 5, which is configured to be capable of beingpulled out from the discharging port 18 toward the front surface side ofthe apparatus, is provided on the lower portion 3. The discharging tray5 is set in a state of being accommodated in a bottom portion of thelower portion 3 (FIG. 1) and a state of being pulled out to the frontsurface side of the apparatus which is not illustrated. In a state inwhich the discharging tray 5 is pulled out, the original document Pdischarged from the discharging port 18 can be loaded on the dischargingtray 5.

Regarding Control System in Scanner

In FIG. 4, the controller 40 performs various controls of the scanner 1including a feeding control of the original document P. A signal fromthe operation panel 7 is input to the controller 40, and a signal for adisplay of the operation panel 7, particularly, for realizing the userinterface (UI) is transmitted to the operation panel 7 from thecontroller 40.

The controller 40 controls the motor 45 for the feeding roller and themotor 46 for the transporting roller. The motor 45 for the feedingroller as described above is a driving source of the feeding roller 14,and the motor 46 for the transporting roller is a driving source of theseparating roller 15, the pair of transporting rollers 16, and the pairof discharging rollers 17.

Data to be read by the reading unit 20 is input to the controller 40,and a signal for controlling the reading unit 20 is transmitted to thereading unit 20 from the controller 40.

Signals from the double-feeding detecting portion 33 and the originaldocument detecting portion 47 are input to the controller 40.

The controller 40 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, and a memory 43. The CPU41 performs various calculations according to a control program storedin the ROM 42, and controls the entire operations of the scanner 1.Also, each data item need for detecting of the double-feeding is storedin the memory 43 which is an example of a storage is a nonvolatilememory capable of reading and writing.

A control program 44 for controlling feeding of the original document Pis stored in the ROM 42 according to an example of the invention(details will be described later).

In addition, the scanner 1 is configured to be capable of coming intocontact with an external computer 60, and information is input to thecontroller 40 from the external computer 60. The external computer 60includes a displaying portion 62. The control program stored in astorage unit which is not illustrated realizes the user interface (UI)in the displaying portion 62.

In addition, the controller 40 controls the separation switching unit68A provided on a power transmission path from the motor 46 for thetransporting roller to the separating roller 15. Hereinafter, withreference to FIG. 5, the separation switching unit 68A will bedescribed.

A referent number 22 in FIG. 5 indicates a transmission shaft whichtransmits a driving force from the motor 46 for the transporting rollerto the separating roller 15, and the driving force from the motor 46 forthe transporting roller is transmitted to the transmission shaft 22through a driving gear 71, a slide gear 72, and a gear group 70.

The driving gear 71, the slide gear 72, the gear group 70, thetransmission shaft 22, and the separation switching unit 68A to bedescribed later constitute the power transmitting mechanism 69transmitting the driving force from the motor 46 for the transportingroller to the separating roller 15.

The slide gear 72 is provided to be slidable in a rotation axialdirection (right and left direction of FIG. 5), and when the slide gearslides, a state thereof can be changed to a state in which the drivingpower is transmitted to the gear group 70 by meshing with the drivinggear 71 (illustrated by solid line) and a state in which the drivingforce is not transmitted to the gear group 70 deviated from the drivinggear 71 (illustrated by two-dot chain line). Hereinafter, a state inwhich the driving force is transmitted to the gear group 70 from thedriving gear 71, that is, a state in which the driving force of themotor 46 for the transporting roller is transmitted to the separatingroller 15 is referred to a “separation state” of separating the originaldocument P. In addition, the state in which the driving force is nottransmitted to the gear group 70 from the driving gear 71, that is, thestate in which the driving force of the motor 46 for the transportingroller is not transmitted to the separating roller 15 is referred to a“non-separation state” of not separating the original document P. Thenon-separation state is a state in which the separating roller 15 can befreely rotated with a weak force.

The separation switching unit 68A switches between the separation stateand the non-separation state. The separation switching unit 68A includesan electromagnetic plunger 74 and a gear engaging member 73A when beingdisplaced in the right and left direction of FIG. 5 by theelectromagnetic plunger 74. The gear engaging member 73A is formed in ashape of pinching the slide gear 72, and because of an operation of theelectromagnetic plunger 74, the slide gear 72 is displaced, and theseparation state and the non-separation state are switched.

Feeding Control in Scanner

Continuously, with reference to drawings subsequent to FIG. 6, a feedingcontrol to be switched in accordance with the types of the originaldocument will be described.

The control program 44 (FIG. 4) included in the controller 40 isexecuted for realizing the user interface (UI) illustrated in FIGS. 7 to9, or FIGS. 10 and 11. The user interface illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9,or FIGS. 10 and 11 is a user interface to be realized on the operationpanel 7 and is an operation menu for performing reading.

An operation menu U-1 in FIG. 7 is an operation menu to be realized atthe time of reading various photographs which are an example of theoriginal document P. Also, the operation menu U-1 is an operation menuto be realized in a case in which a photograph is selected in theoperation menu, which is not illustrated, in which whether or not thephotograph is read or a document is read is selected.

In the example, as the types of a photograph, these three types of a“normal photograph”, a “panoramic photograph”, and an “instantphotograph” can be set to be selectable. The instant photograph isconstituted a plurality of layers such as a photograph of polaroid(registered trademark of Polaroid Corporation) and is a photographhaving a concern of damage in which the layers may be separated when theseparating roller 15 performs separation in the separation state.

In a case in which the “normal photograph” is selected in the operationmenu U-1 as illustrated in FIG. 7, a process is transitioned to theoperation menu U-1A. In the operation menu U-1A, a guide of “Please setoriginal document” is displayed, three operation icons of “start”,“stop”, and “cancel” are displayed, and the “stop” icon is set to be notselectable.

When the “cancel” is selected in the operation menu U-1A, the processreturns to the operation menu U-1. When the “start” icon is selected inthe operation menu U-1A, the process is transitioned to an operationmenu U-1B, and a normal photograph starts to be fed and read.

In the operation menu U-1B, a guide of “reading” is displayed, and the“start” and the “cancel” icons are set to be not selectable. When the“stop” is selected in the operation menu U-1B, reading is stopped, andthe process returns to the operation menu U-1A. When the reading isstopped without selecting the “stop” icon in the operation menu U-1B,the process returns to the operation menu U-1.

The “cancel” icon may be omitted in the operation menus U-1A and U-1B.

Also, in a case in which “normal photograph” is selected in theoperation menu U-1, the controller 40 selects a table No. 3 of FIG. 6 asa feeding condition to be applied when the original document P is fed.

“Double-feeding detecting threshold” in FIG. 6 is a threshold used fordetermining whether or not the double-feeding occurs or not based on asignal level obtained by the double-feeding detecting portion 33, andsince the signal level decreases as a thickness of the original documentis thickened, the threshold also decreases. Here, a threshold “forphotograph” is used.

In addition, “ON” selected as “double-feeding detection” indicates thatdouble-feeding is determined, and “OFF” indicates that thedouble-feeding is not determined. Here, when “ON” is set, thedouble-feeding is determined.

“One sheet of paper feeding mode” is a paper feeding mode in which thepaper is set one by one and is fed without setting a plurality of theoriginal documents P, and “ON” indicates applying of the mode, and “OFF”indicates not applying of the mode. Here, when “OFF” is set, theplurality of original documents P can be set, and the documents aresequentially fed from the lowest document among the plurality of setoriginal documents.

“Separation mode” indicates either of the separation state and thenon-separation state of the separating roller 15. Here, when“separation” is set, and the separating roller 15 is set in theseparation state and separates the original documents.

Next, in a case in which “panorama” is selected in the operation menuU-1 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the process is transitioned to anoperation menu U-2A. In the operation menu U-2A, a guide of “Please setoriginal document” is displayed, the three operation icons of “start”,“stop”, and “cancel” are displayed, and the “stop” icon is set to be notselectable.

When “cancel” is selected in the operation menu U-2A, the processreturns to the operation menu U-1. When “start” is selected in theoperation menu U-2A, the process is transitioned to an operation menuU-2B, and feeding and reading of a panoramic photograph start.

In the operation menu U-2B, a guide of “reading” is displayed, and the“start” and “cancel” icons are set to be not selectable. When “stop” isselected in the operation menu U-2B, reading is stopped, and the processreturns to the operation menu U-2A. When the reading is finished withoutselecting “stop” in the operation menu U-2B, the process returns to theoperation menu U-1.

Also, the “cancel” icon may be omitted in the operation menus U-2A andU-2B.

Also, in a case in which “panorama” is selected in the operation menuU-1, the controller 40 selects a table No. 1 of FIG. 6 as a feedingcondition being applied when the original document P is fed. A feedingmode being realized by the feeding condition of the table No. 1 is setto a “second feeding mode”.

Here, a threshold “for photograph” is applied to “double-feedingdetecting threshold”, and “ON” is selected as “double-feeding detection”so as to determine the double-feeding. “OFF” is selected as “one sheetof paper feeding mode”, the plurality of original documents can be set,and the documents are sequentially fed from the lowest document amongthe plurality of set original documents.

“Separation” is selected in “separation mode”, the separating roller 15is set in the separation state, and the original document is separated.

Next, in a case in which “instant” is selected in the operation menu U-1as illustrated in FIG. 9, the process is transitioned to an operationmenu U-3A. In the operation menu U-3A, a guide of “Please set firstsheet of original documents” is displayed, and two operation icons of“start” and “cancel” are displayed. When “cancel” is selected in theoperation menu U-3A, the process returns to the operation menu U-1.

When “start” is selected in the operation menu U-3A, feeding and readingof the instant photograph start, and the process is transitioned to anoperation menu U-3B.

At a timing when the operation menu U-3B is displayed, one sheet ofinstant photographs is finished to be read, the “start” icon is set tobe not selectable, and a guide of “Please set one sheet of next originaldocuments” is displayed.

When one sheet of next original documents is set in this state, a sensorwhich is not illustrated detects this setting, and feeding and readingare automatically performed. That is, the “start” icon is needed to betouched only once for the first one sheet, but after that, feeding andreading the documents are automatically performed by setting theoriginal document P.

When “cancel” is selected in the operation menus U-3A and U-3B, theprocess returns to the operation menu U-1.

Also, the “cancel” icon may be omitted in the operation menus U-3A andU-3B.

Also, in a case in which “instant” is selected in the operation menuU-1, the controller 40 selects the table No. 2 of FIG. 6 as a feedingcondition being applied when the original document is fed. A feedingmode being realized by the feeding condition of the table No. 2 is setto a “first feeding mode”.

Here, “OFF” is selected as “double-feeding detection”, and “ON” isselected as “one sheet of paper feeding mode” without determining thedouble-feeding. “Non-separation” is selected in “separation mode”, theseparating roller 15 is set in the non-separation state, and theoriginal document is not separated.

Also, in a case in which “document” is selected in an operation menu(not illustrated) before being transitioned to the operation menu U-1,the controller 40 selects a table No. 4 of FIG. 6 as a feeding conditionbeing applied when the original document P is fed.

Here, a threshold “for document” is applied to “double-feeding detectingthreshold”, “ON” is selected as “double-feeding detection” so as todetermine the double-feeding. “OFF” is selected as “one sheet of paperfeeding mode”, the plurality of original documents P can be set, and thedocuments are sequentially fed from the lowest document among theplurality of set original documents P. “Separation” is selected in“Separation mode”, and the separating roller 15 is set in the separationstate so as to separate the original document.

A UI illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 can be changed as illustrated in FIGS.10 and 11. In the operation menu U-2 illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, itis a type for selecting the types of the original document by aso-called radio button, and when the “start” icon is selected, feedingand reading of the original documents P, which are selected by the radiobutton, start. In a case of “normal photograph” (and in a case of“panoramic photograph”), a guide of “Please set original document” isdisplayed, and when the “start” icon is selected, the feeding andreading of the original document P start, and the process istransitioned to an operation menu U-4A.

In the operation menu U-4A, a “stop” icon is displayed. In a case inwhich reading is finished, or in a case in which the “stop” icon isselected, the process returns to the operation menu U-2.

Even in a case in which “panorama” is selected, the same menu transitionas “normal photograph” occurs.

Meanwhile, in a case in which “instant” is selected, as illustrated inFIG. 11, a guide of “Please set first sheet of original documents” isdisplayed. A user sets the original document P one by one, and when a“start” icon is selected, feeding and reading of the instant photographstart, and the process is transitioned to an operation menu U-5C.

At the timing of displaying the operation menu U-5C, the first sheet ofthe instant photographs is finished to be read, and a guide of “Pleaseset one sheet of next original documents” is displayed.

When one sheet of next original documents P is set in this state, asensor which is not illustrated detects this setting, and feeding andreading are automatically performed. That is, after the second sheet,the feeding and reading are automatically performed by setting theoriginal documents P.

When “cancel” is selected in the operation menu U-5C, the processreturns to the operation menu U-2.

Also, a feeding setting, when each type of the original document isselected and the original document P is fed, follows the contents ofFIG. 6 in the same manner as the example described above.

Also, regarding a display of “cancel”, a specific content such as “exitinstant mode and return to photograph select” may be displayed.

Characteristics of the scanner 1 described above are summarized asfollows. That is, the scanner 1 includes the reading unit 20 reading theoriginal document P, the original document placing portion 11 on whichthe original document P is placed, the feeding roller 14 feeding theoriginal document P from the original document placing portion 11, theseparating roller 15 which is a roller nipping the original document Pbetween the feeding roller 14 and the separating roller and is capableof switching between the separation state of separating the originaldocument P and the non-separation state of not separating the originaldocument P, and the controller 40 controlling feeding of the originaldocument P. Also, the controller 40 determines whether or not theoriginal document is fed in the separation state or the non-separationstate, based on the types of the original document P which are setthrough the user interface (FIGS. 7 to 11) for instructing a select ofthe types of the original document P to be read and a start of readingthe original document.

The control program 44 (FIG. 4) includes a process of determiningwhether or not the original document is fed in the separation state orthe non-separation state, based on the types of the original document Pwhich are set through the user interface (FIGS. 7 to 11) for instructinga select of the types of the original document P to be read and a startof reading the original document.

Therefore, an appropriate separation state is reliably selectedaccording to the types of the original document P, and thereby making itpossible to appropriately feed the original document P. In addition,since the user does not need to select (does not have to be conscious)the separation state and the non-separation state of the separatingroller 15 because the user only instructs the select of the types of theoriginal document P to be read and the start of reading the originaldocument through the user interface, and therefore, the apparatus isuser-friendly and is capable of avoiding a setting mistake occurred bythe user.

In addition, the scanner 1 includes the separation switching unit 68A(FIGS. 4 and 5) that switches between the separation state and thenon-separation state of the separating roller 15 under the control ofthe controller 40, and the controller 40 controls the separationswitching unit 68A based on the types of the set original document P.Therefore, since switching between the separation state and thenon-separation state is automatically performed regardless of touchingof the user, a user operability is improved, and reliability ofappropriate feeding is secured.

In addition, the scanner 1 includes the double-feeding detecting portion33 detecting double-feeding of the original document P on the downstreamside of the feeding roller 14, the controller 40 is capable of switchingbetween a first feeding mode (table No. 2 of FIG. 6), in which aninstant photograph which is an example of a first original document isfed, and a second feeding mode (table No. 1 of FIG. 6), in which apanoramic photograph which is an example of a second original documentis fed, the first feeding mode is a mode for feeding documents bysetting a state of the separating roller 15 as the non-separation state,the second feeding mode is a mode for feeding the documents by settingthe state of the separating roller 15 as the separation state, and thecontroller 40 does not use the double-feeding detecting portion 33 infirst feeding mode but uses the double-feeding detecting portion 33 inthe second feeding mode.

The original document P, which is fed when the separating roller 15 isset to the non-separation state, may be constituted by a plurality oflayers, and thus if the double-feeding detecting portion 33 whichdetects the double-feeding of the original document P is used, there isa concern that double-feeding may be determined in spite of nondouble-feeding and a job may be stopped.

However, since the controller 40 does not use the double-feedingdetecting portion 33 in the first feeding mode which is set in thenon-separation state but uses the double-feeding detecting portion 33 inthe second feeding mode which is set in the separation state, theconcern described above can be avoided.

In addition, the first feeding mode (table No. 2 of FIG. 6) for feedingthe instant photograph which is an example of the first originaldocument is a feeding mode in which only one sheet of the originaldocuments P set in the original document placing portion 11 is fed and afeeding standby state is set until a next one sheet of the originaldocuments P is set, and the second feeding mode (table No. 1 of FIG. 6)for feeding the panoramic photograph which is an example of the secondoriginal document is a feeding mode in which the plurality of originaldocuments set in the original document placing portion 11 is separatedby the separating roller 15 and is continuously fed.

Therefore, the original documents which are constituted by a pluralityof layers and is damaged when being separated by the separating roller15, that is, the instant photograph in the example described above canbe appropriately fed.

The embodiments described above can be modified as follows.

(1) In the embodiment described above, the switching between theseparation state and the non-separation state of the separating roller15 is automatically performed regardless of the operation of the userunder the control of the controller 40, but the switching between theseparation state and the non-separation state may be performed by theoperation of the user.

FIGS. 12 to 14 are views illustrating such embodiments, and a scanner100 includes an operation unit (slide switch) 73 c alongside theoperation panel 7 on a front surface of the apparatus as illustrated inFIG. 12. The operation unit 73 c is slidable in a right and leftdirection.

The operation unit 73 c is formed to be integral with the gear engagingmember 73B as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, and the gear engagingmember 73B integrally includes a gear engaging portion 73 d formed in ashape in which the slide gear 72 is pinched.

With the configuration as described above, when the operation unit 73 cis slid, the slide gear 72 is slidably displaced, switching between aseparation state in which the slide gear 72 meshes with the driving gear71 and a driving force is transmitted to the gear group 70 and anon-separation state in which the slide gear 72 is deviated from thedriving gear 71 and the driving force is not transmitted to the geargroup 70 is performed.

A separation switching unit 68B according to the embodiment includes thegear engaging member 73B as described above.

Also, a gear 24 is provided on the transmission shaft 22 in FIGS. 13 and14, and a driving torque is transmitted to the separating roller 15 fromthe gear 24 through the gear 23. A reference number 21 indicates aseparating roller unit including the separating roller 15, and areference number 25 indicates a coil spring as an energizing unit whichenergizes the separating roller unit 21 toward the feeding roller 14.

A configuration including the separation switching unit 68B switchingbetween the separation state and the non-separation state by theoperation of the user in this way is provided with a detecting unit (notillustrated) detecting a position of the slide gear 72, and thecontroller 40 may generate an alert in a case in which the state of theseparating roller 15 does not correspond to the types of the setoriginal document P (is not appropriate for the feeding conditionillustrated in FIG. 6). This alert may be displayed on, for example, theoperation panel 7, or may be displayed on the displaying portion 62(FIG. 4) included in the external computer 60 (FIG. 4). The alert can begenerated as a message such as, more specifically, “please slideoperation knob on front surface of apparatus toward opposite side” orthe like.

Therefore, it is possible to urge a user to perform a correct operationand to perform feeding of the original document P.

(2) As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the configuration in which theseparation switching unit 68B switching between the separation state andthe non-separation state by the operation of the user is included isprovided with a detecting unit (not illustrated) detecting a position ofthe slide gear 72, and the controller 40 may select a feeding mode(feeding condition) based on whether or not the position of the slidegear 72 is set in the separation state or the non-separation state.Therefore, it is possible to perform an appropriate feeding controlbased on the state of the separating roller 15.

(3) The control program, which includes a process of determining whetheror not the documents are fed in the separation state or thenon-separation state based on the types of the original document P setthrough the user interface (FIGS. 7 to 11) for instructing a select ofthe types of the original document P to be read and a start of reading,may be stored in a storage (not illustrated) of the external computer 60(FIG. 4) connected to the scanner 1 and be executed by the externalcomputer 60, and the user interface may be realized through thedisplaying portion 62 of the external computer 60 (FIG. 4).

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/781,811, filed Feb. 4, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/143,140, filed Sep. 26, 2018 and granted on Mar.17, 2020 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,594,888, which claims priority to JapanesePatent Application No. 2017-186947, filed Sep. 27, 2017, the entiredisclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reading method comprising: a readingstep of reading an original document; a first feeding step of feedingthe original document with a feed roller that feeds the originaldocument and a separating roller, in a separation state in which theoriginal document is separated so as to prevent a double-feeding of theoriginal document, that nips the original document between the feedingroller and the separating roller; a second feeding step of feeding theoriginal document with the feed roller and the separating roller in anon-separation state in which the original document is not separated; aswitching step of switching a state of the separation roller between theseparation state and the non-separation state; a displaying step ofdisplaying a user interface so as to allow a user to select a type ofthe original document; and a determining step of determining either theoriginal document is to be fed in the separation state or thenon-separation state based on the type of the original document setthrough the user interface.
 2. The image reading method according toclaim 1, wherein the displaying step displays a first icon that iscorresponding to a first type of the original document and a second iconthat is corresponding to a second type of the original document, thedetermining step determines the original document is to be fed in theseparation state based on receiving a first input of selecting the firsticon and the original document is to be fed in the non-separation statebased on receiving a second input of selecting the second icon.
 3. Theimage reading method according to claim 2, wherein the displaying stepdisplays the first icon on a menu on which the second icon is displayed.4. The image reading method according to claim 1, wherein the switchingstep includes a gear switching step of switching a gear between a firststate in which a driving force is transmitted from a motor to theseparating roller and a second state in which the driving force is nottransmitted from the motor to the separating roller.
 5. The imagereading method according to claim 2, wherein the switching step includesa gear switching step of switching a gear between a first state in whicha driving force is transmitted from a motor to the separating roller anda second state in which the driving force is not transmitted from themotor to the separating roller.
 6. The image reading method according toclaim 5, wherein, the gear switching step switches a state of the gearbetween the first state and the second state with an actuator.
 7. Theimage reading method according to claim 1, wherein, the first feedingstep continuously feeds a plurality of original documents set on anoriginal document place on which the original document is placed, andthe second feeding step feeds only one sheet of original documents seton the original document place and stand by until a next one sheet ofthe original documents is set on the original document place.
 8. Theimage reading method according to claim 2, wherein, the first feedingstep continuously feeds a plurality of original documents set on anoriginal document place on which the original document is placed, andthe second feeding step feeds only one sheet of original documents seton the original document place and stand by until a next one sheet ofthe original documents is set on the original document place.
 9. Theimage reading method according to claim 5, wherein, the first feedingstep continuously feeds a plurality of original documents set on anoriginal document place on which the original document is placed, andthe second feeding step feeds only one sheet of original documents seton the original document place and stand by until a next one sheet ofthe original documents is set on the original document place.
 10. Theimage reading method according to claim 7, wherein the second feedingstep displays a guide prompting to set the next sheet after the onesheet is fed.
 11. The image reading method according to claim 8, whereinthe second feeding step displays a guide prompting to set the next sheetafter the one sheet is fed.
 12. The image reading method according toclaim 9, wherein the second feeding step displays a guide prompting toset the next sheet after the one sheet is fed.
 13. The image readingmethod according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving step ofreceiving an input indicating starting to feed the original document,wherein each of the first feeding step and the second feeding step isperformed after the determining step and the receiving step.
 14. Theimage reading method according to claim 5, wherein, a receiving step ofreceiving an input indicating starting to feed the original document,wherein each of the first feeding step and the second feeding step isperformed after the determining step and the receiving step.
 15. Theimage reading method according to claim 9, further comprising: areceiving step of receiving an input indicating starting to feed theoriginal document, wherein each of the first feeding step and the secondfeeding step is performed after the determining step and the receivingstep.
 16. The image reading method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a double-feeding detecting step of detecting thedouble-feeding, wherein a double-feeding detecting step detects thedouble-feeding in the first feeding step, and does not detect thedouble-feeding in the second feeding step.
 17. The image reading methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising: a double-feeding detectingstep of detecting the double-feeding, wherein a double-feeding detectingstep detects the double-feeding in the first feeding step, and does notdetect the double-feeding in the second feeding step.
 18. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, theprogram comprising: reading an original document; feeding the originaldocument with a feed roller that feeds the original document and aseparating roller, in a separation state in which the original documentis separated so as to prevent a double-feeding of the original document,that nips the original document between the feeding roller and theseparating roller; feeding the original document with the feed rollerand the separating roller in a non-separation state in which theoriginal document is not separated; switching a state of the separationroller between the separation state and the non-separation state;displaying a first icon and a second icon so as to allow a user toselect a type of the original document; and determining either theoriginal document is to be fed in the separation state or thenon-separation state based on the type of the original document setthrough the user interface.